Rose plant named ‘RNF Purple 01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct rose plant having a strong fragrance and pale purple-colored flowers.

Botanical classification: Rosa L.

Varietal denomination: ‘RNF Purple 01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofFloribunda-type rose plant known by the varietal name ‘RNF Purple 01’.The new variety was discovered in April of 2010 in Gifu, Japan. The newvariety is the result of a planned breeding program between anunpatented Rosa L. variety named ‘Blue Moon’ (female parent) and anunnamed and unpatented Rosa rugosa variety (male parent) from thebreeder's own collection. ‘RNF Purple 01’ differs from its female parentin petal shape and the fact that the new variety has a fragrance, but‘Blue Moon’ does not. Additionally, ‘RNF Purple 01’ exhibits a similarpetal shape and existence of a fragrance to its male parent, but differsfrom its male parent in its actual fragrance and ‘RNF Purple 01’ hasfewer thorns and more leaves. When ‘RNF Purple 01’ is compared to RosaL. ‘Wish AI’ (currently unpatented in the U.S., Japanese Patent No.21842), the varieties are similar in that they both exhibit a fragrance,lack eyes on the flowers, and are double-flowering in nature. The newvariety differs from ‘Wish AI’ in petal color and shape and alsoexhibits a stronger fragrance than ‘Wish AI’. When generally compared toother rose varieties known to the breeder, the new variety differs inits strong fragrance, its type of fragrance, and in flower color. ‘RNFPurple 01’ has been trial and field tested and has been found to retainits distinctive characteristics and remain true to type throughsuccessive propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety takenfrom 3-4 years of age, with the color being as nearly true as ispossible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of the blooms of the new variety;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the new variety grown to a flowering plant;

FIG. 3 shows a view of multiple plants of the new variety; and

FIG. 4 shows the leaves of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics werecollected by asexual reproductions first performed via stem cuttings inMay of 2011 carried out in Gifu, Japan. Plants of the new variety weregrown in a greenhouse under natural light in 15 cm pots with peat mosssubstrate and with the assistance of heaters in the winter. The colorreadings and measurements were taken indoors in a greenhouse undernatural light on one-year-old plants grown in containers. Colorreferences are primarily to The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, Sixth Edition.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 21-28 days at approximately 25° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 30-45 days at approximately 25° C.-   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:    About 5 months/20-22 weeks in a 15 cm container.-   Rooting habit: Similar to standard roses.-   Form: Upright.-   Distance from media surface to top of foliage: 30-35 cm at the end    of production.-   Distance from media surface to top of flowers: 35-40 cm.-   Plant diameter: Around 25 cm.-   Vigor: Average.-   Strength (need for artificial support): No artificial support    needed.-   Branching characteristics: Branching from bottom or lower level.-   Stem color:    -   -   Immature.—N57A.        -   Mature.—135C.-   Surface texture:    -   -   Young wood.—Smooth and hard.        -   Older wood.—Rough and scabrous.-   Average stem diameter: From 7 mm to 1 cm.-   Internode length: Approximately 4 to 5 cm.-   Number of internodes: 6 to 7.-   Thorns:    -   -   Average number.—Main branches: 70 per plant. Stems: 10 per            stem.        -   Length.—7 mm to 1 cm.        -   Width.—Around 5 mm.        -   Color.—Immature: 60B and 63C. Mature: 166C.        -   Shape.—Acuminate.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Average number of leaves per lateral branch.—7.        -   Average number of leaflets per leaf.—7.        -   Overall size of leaf.—Length: 10 cm. Width: 5 cm.        -   Leaflet.—Shape of leaf (generally): Ovate. Shape of apex:            Acute. Shape of base: Obtuse. Length range: 5-7 cm. Width            range: 3-5 cm. Texture: Moist and smooth. Margin type:            Serrate and similar to standard roses. Color: Young leaves:            Upper surface: 146B. Lower surface: 68C. Mature leaves:            Upper surface: 137A. Lower surface: 132D. Veins: Venation            type: Pinnate. Color: 127A.        -   Petiole.—Length: 2-3 mm. Diameter: 1-2 mm. Color: 137D with            a hint of 60A. Texture: Smooth.        -   Stipule.—None present.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Buds:    -   -   Number of buds per plant.—10.        -   Number of buds per flowering stem.—2.        -   Shape of individual bud.—Napiform.        -   Length of individual bud.—1.5-2 cm.        -   Width of individual bud.—8 mm to 1 cm.        -   Bud color.—Green (144D) with red (58B).-   Natural flowering season at specified location: End of April to May    in Gifu, Japan.-   Average number of flowers per year at specified location: 10 to 15.-   Flowering habit: Continuous and freely flowering.-   Flower description: 2 or more flowers and bloom like a bunch.-   Lastingness of an individual flower on the plant: 10 days to 2    weeks.-   Lastingness of a cut flower: 1 week.-   Flower:    -   -   General appearance.—Double flowering rose.        -   Shape.—Round and mounded.        -   Diameter.—8-10 cm.        -   Height.—3-4 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Color.—Upper and lower surfaces (when opening): 84C. Upper            and lower surfaces (fully opened): 84C.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Length.—4-5 cm.        -   Width.—5-6 cm.        -   Apex shape.—Round with a wide lip.        -   Base shape.—Round and narrow.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Number per flower.—25-35.        -   Texture.—Soft.        -   Reflex characteristics.—None.        -   Presence of basal petal spots.—None.        -   Petaloid description.—Lightly fringed with semi-double            flowering.-   Sepals:    -   -   Upper surface color.—When opening: 149D. Fully opened: 193A.        -   Lower surface color.—When opening: 145C. Fully opened: 193D.        -   Shape.—Sharp.        -   Length.—2-3 cm.        -   Width.—8 mm to 1 cm.        -   Apex shape.—Pointed.        -   Base shape.—Wide.        -   Margin.—Entire and tight, when closed.        -   Number per flower.—4-5.        -   Texture.—Soft and smooth.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—3-5 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Texture.—Tough, with small thorns present.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—142C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—6.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.8 mm.        -   Color.—142C.-   Receptacle:    -   -   Texture.—Sleek.        -   Shape.—Semicircle.        -   Height.—5-7 mm.        -   Width.—5-7 mm.        -   Color.—143B.-   Fragrance: Strong.-   Disease/pest resistance: Average resistance to powdery mildew of the    Erysiphaceae family.-   Winter temperature tolerance: Blooming at 1° C. in winter. With only    roots, −15˜-18° C.-   Hot temperature tolerance: 40° C.-   Drought tolerance: Average.-   Reproductive organs:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number (per flower).—50.        -   Filament.—Length: 7-10 mm. Color: NN155C.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Like a match stick. Length: 2-3 mm. Color:            164D.        -   Pollen.—Color: 12A. Amount (generally): Less than average.-   Pistils:    -   -   Number.—50.        -   Length.—1-2 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 7.8 mm. Color: 157D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Funnel. Color: 165D. Size: 1 mm.        -   Ovaries.—Length: 3 mm. Width: 0.5 mm. Color: 157D.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant, as is hereinillustrated and described.